Handmaid's Tale (The)

Margaret Atwood

Published in:  
1985

Step into a dystopian future where a totalitarian regime subjugates women, reducing them to mere bearers of children. This chilling narrative explores themes of power, resistance, and the fight for individual identity in a world stripped of freedom and choice.

Essence of the Story

• In a theocratic, dystopian version of the United States called Gilead, women have been stripped of their rights. They are categorized based on their societal function, with Offred serving as a "Handmaid" to bear children for the elite.

• Offred navigates the oppressions of Gilead, recalling her past life, forming secret relationships, and contemplating rebellion while the horrors of the regime unfold around her.

• The story ends ambiguously with Offred being taken away by the so-called "Eyes of God" (which could be her liberation or her doom), followed by an academic conference in the distant future discussing the Gileadean era and the authenticity of her account.

The power of The Handmaid's Tale lies in its capacity to provoke thought, elicit emotions, and warn readers about the fragility of rights and freedoms we often take for granted. In doing so, it has earned its place among the pantheon of literature's most influential works.

Summary

In Margaret Atwood's dystopian novel "The Handmaid's Tale," the United States has transformed into the theocratic and authoritarian Gilead due to plummeting fertility rates. Women are categorized by societal roles, with the protagonist, Offred, serving as a "Handmaid" tasked with bearing children for the elite. As she navigates this oppressive regime, Offred secretly engages in forbidden relationships, recalls her past, and discovers pockets of resistance. Her fate remains uncertain as the regime's enforcers take her away, and the story concludes with a future academic discussion about Gilead, highlighting the impermanence of totalitarian rule and the enduring nature of personal narratives.

Overview

In a dystopian future, the United States has been replaced by Gilead's theocratic and authoritarian regime. Due to environmental pollution and radiation, fertility rates have plummeted, and as a result, women's rights have been stripped away to combat the crisis. Women are now defined by their societal roles, particularly their reproduction ability.

The story is narrated by Offred, a "Handmaid" whose primary role is to bear children for the ruling class. These Handmaids are forced into sexual servitude and wear distinct red dresses and white bonnets to symbolize their subservience. Offred often reminisces about her past, where she had a family and a name. Throughout the story, Offred navigates the treacherous landscape of Gilead, forming secret relationships and discovering pockets of resistance against the regime.

As the narrative progresses, Offred becomes involved with the Commander, the high-ranking official to whom she is assigned, and Nick, a driver, which endangers her already precarious position in society. The novel culminates with Offred's uncertain fate — she is taken away by the mysterious "Eyes of God," leaving readers unsure whether she is being rescued or arrested.

The novel concludes with an epilogue set in the distant future, where scholars discuss the Gileadean era and Offred's account, illustrating the transient nature of totalitarian regimes and the enduring power of personal narratives.

Through this harrowing tale, Atwood offers a sharp critique of gender oppression, religious extremism, and the potential consequences of complacency in the face of authoritarianism.

Why it's classic

Atwood's novel is not just a dystopian fiction but a profound exploration of the nuances of power, gender dynamics, religious extremism, and societal control. Through the lens of a nightmarish future, she comments on the vulnerabilities and threats women and marginalized groups face in society.

Atwood's characters are multi-dimensional, challenging us to empathize, critique, and reflect upon our convictions. The protagonist, Offred, embodies resistance, resilience, and the enduring human spirit amidst profound adversity.

Atwood's use of language is hauntingly beautiful and evocative. Her prose serves both the narrative and the thematic content, making the reader experience her characters' fear, hope, and numbness. The narrative structure, which includes both present experiences and flashbacks, creates a sense of fragmented memory which mirrors the protagonist's emotional state.

Meet the Author

Margaret Atwood is a Canadian author, poet, and literary critic renowned for prolific contributions to contemporary literature. With a career spanning over six decades, her works, which include novels, poetry, essays, and speculative fiction, often explore themes of identity, gender dynamics, societal power structures, and environmental concerns. Atwood's astute observations about society and her unique narrative voice have cemented her as a central figure in the literary world. Perhaps best known for "The Handmaid's Tale," a dystopian novel that delves into issues of female subjugation and autocratic governance, Atwood's writings not only reflect societal anxieties but also provoke profound reflections on the human condition, making her one of the most influential authors of her generation.

Author's Memorable Quotes

Margaret Atwood has penned numerous memorable lines throughout her illustrious career. While it's challenging to definitively select the "three most famous," the following quotations are among her most recognized and frequently cited:

• “Nolite te bastardes carborundorum.” - This Latin phrase, which roughly translates to "Don't let the bastards grind you down," is from "The Handmaid's Tale." It becomes a silent rallying cry for the novel's protagonist, Offred.

• "When we think of the past it's the beautiful things we pick out. We want to believe it was all like that." - From "The Handmaid's Tale," this quote encapsulates the human tendency to romanticize the past, a theme Atwood revisits in various forms throughout her work.

• "War is what happens when language fails." - This reflection on the inadequacy of communication and its potential consequences showcases Atwood's insights into societal and interpersonal dynamics.

Each quote offers a glimpse into Atwood's unique perspective on society, identity, and power dynamics, which permeate her literary contributions.

One More Thing...

The Latin phrase "Nolite te bastardes carborundorum" from "The Handmaid's Tale," which translates to "Don't let the bastards grind you down," isn't authentic classical Latin. Margaret Atwood first encountered the phrase as a joke among her Latin-teaching schoolmates during high school. In the novel, it becomes a secret message of resistance for Offred. When Atwood was asked about using this pseudo-Latin phrase, she humorously replied that she'd deploy it as graffiti if ever imprisoned!